quick bear hunting question

[rockvillearcher]

I was wanting to go bear hunting next year. We do not have bears here in Indiana. So I am going to have to go out of state. I was planning to go to Montana, but I was thinking twice about this voyage due to the cost of the tag and plus the expense to get there. I was wanting to try find someone who is a veteran bear hunting who was willing to take someone like me that is not uder there wing to go on one next year. I would like to find somewhere that is closer and cheaper, if need to be I would be willing to camp in your front lawn, just as long as I have an excellent chance at a bear. I would really prefer not to use bait, I do not have any objections to this method I just think that it may be a better rush to spot and stalk one. Or even run them with dogs. I was told by one person, that many deer hunters find them a nusance and it shouldn't be hard to find someone. So I thought I would take a shot in the dark and post this just to see if I would get any hits. Thanks to all who will read this and also to those who reply to this also.

Chris Kiefner

[Hornseeker]

If nothin turns up for ya, and you decide coming up NW is going to work, let me know and I'll try and point ya in a direction. I've got quite a bit of experience in Montana, Idaho and Washington.

There are places in N. Idaho that you will see mulitiple bears a day and should have plenty of chances at good stalks.

Good luck...hopefully someone in CO or NM or something answer you...much closer.

[Atlantis]

Like Hornseeker says, I'd rank ID well over MT in terms of bear numbers...plus, you always have the option of hunting them over bait once you wear holes in your soles...lol...

[nc recurveman]

think east coast baby we got the market cornered on bear over here. lot of public land still hunting would be kinda tuff, bears around here = butt deep water. but I hope this gives you a starting piont.

[Onestringer]

If you are serious about not only hunting bears, but being successful I'd recommend finding a reputable outfitter and paying the extra money for a guaranteed hunt. I've hunted bear for many years...got my first at 16. Spent many years paying for less expensive hunts and finally realized I'd spent WAY more on bear hunts that were unsuccessful than I'd intended. My wife finally insisted that I was going on my last bear hunt so I'd better make it count. I found an outfitter in Manitoba who has a very high harvest success rate and a free return if you don't get the opportunity to shoot at a quality bear. I got a beauty of a chocolate black bear first day out...my dad waited a few days and got a nice black bear as well. There were 7 guys in camp and 6 got bear (with bows) 1 missed 3 times...NICE BEARS!!! If you are interested in information PM me or email me at scotthesterly@yahoo.com and I'll send you their information. It really is worth waiting for that kind of hunt if you can.

[Crowdog]

There's a few great places to hunt bear in New Mexico. In most of the units, the bear tags can be purchased over the counter. Look into the units in the Gilas, unit 15, and the 16's. Water hole hunting is very productive, as is calling. The damn bears will come running into cow elk calls.
The Sargent and the Humpfries are draw units, and they are close to the Colorado border. Mostly oak brush, and a lot of bear there, big bear.
In Colorado, apply for the special draw tags. The area around Pagosa Springs, Durango, and Bayfield have a lot of bear, and a lot of problem bear. The DOW will tell you were the bear are, hoping to have some shot.
Out west, the drier, the better for water hole hunting. If the chokecherrys are thick, the bear will be thick around them, or if the acorns are out, you'll be able to get in on them.
We can't run bear with dogs in Colorado anymore, but here in New Mexico we can. But not during the archery seasons. We usually kill our bear as we stumble on them while hunting elk. The last one I killed in 2002 was shot at four feet as he came up over a pond dam, coming into a damn cow call. A few days later, my cousin shot one almost as big coming into a cow call. And believe me, it's not a very pleasant sight to see a big 400# bear running at ya. Especially when he sees you and stands up on his hind legs to get a better look at ya.
Another thing to do, if you have the money, is contact the Jicarilla Apache Reservation. The guys in the Fish and Game department run bear in the fall, and they kill some MONSTERS!!! Anthony

[rockvillearcher]

I want to go hunt bears, but I just do not want to pay out the waazoo for an outfitter. I would rather find someone who would not mind a tag along that has hunted bears with success and would want to teach a green hunter the ins and outs. I am at a bad situation where I do not have any prop. to hunt on other than for myself, so I am pretty well aware that it is going to be hard to accomplish what I would like to try to accomplish.

[Crowdog]

Where do you want to hunt? New Mexico? Where? The Humpfries or the Sargent? You don't need another tag to hunt bear in New Mexico.
Personally, and yes because I hunt there and I'm from there, Colorado is a great place to hunt bear. The last four years have really been bad for the bears in Colorado, no berry crops to speak of, no acorn crops, and the bear are everywhere. My dad and nephews just walk up on them while hunting elk.
I love to kill bear, especially on foot. I've baited them for years, worked for Judd Cooney, ran them with dogs, and yes, that is very, very fun, and shot them whenever the oppertunity arose.
If you can't find anything, give me a shout, and we'll talk. Anthony

[rockvillearcher]

I have seen some nice color phase bears come out of New Mexico, and some half way decent ones come from Colorado also. Sorry for such a long delay with not replying.

Chris Kiefner

[Bill Carlsen]

Chris: How much $$$ is too much?:sbrug:

[rockvillearcher]

I do not know, I have a wife and four kids so that is one reason that I would not want to spend to much money. The one thing that makes me hesitate going out west is the price of the tag and the price just to get there. What did you have in mind Bill?

[Bill Carlsen]

My wife and I go up to Northern Maine every year to hunt with Eldon Jandreau of Hunter's Point Guide Service. The hunt costs about $1500, a heated cabin is about $200 for the week + food or you can pitch a tent for nothing + food. The license is less than $150 and the hunt is pretty successful...Eldon is a longbow hunter so he loves having trad archers hunt with him. It is a baited hunt, however, since the Northern Maine woods are so thick that spot and stalk is all but impossible.

That is what I was thinking. I can send you one of his brochures if you email me your address...Madarrows@comcast.net.:)

[rockvillearcher]

Did you get my email Bill?

Chris Kiefner